MWC 2022: What can we expect from the huge phone show?

The annual Mobile World Congress is nearly upon us, and we’re expecting a range of exciting new handsets to be on show. Here’s the full round-up of what’s in store.

MWC is always one of the biggest dates in the tech calendar, so we’re fervently hoping that the 2022 edition will not disappoint us, and that there will be some big new smartphone releases this Spring.

This article collects all the biggest news and rumours about the upcoming event, so you can see what there is to look forward to before it kicks off.

When is MWC?

This year MWC will take place from?28?February to 3 March 2022. It will be held in the same venue that it’s occupied since 2013, namely Fira Gran Via in the Spanish city of Barcelona.

Samsung at MWC 2022

Image Credit: Unbox Therapy

You might reasonably expect the highest-profile Android manufacturer to be the star of the show at MWC; however, the brand’s unveiling of the?Samsung Galaxy S22 series, headlined by the?Galaxy S22 Ultra, has been its major event of the month instead.

However, that doesn’t mean we won’t hear anything from Samsung at the event. In a?blog post?on its official website, the manufacturer confirmed that?new Galaxy Book laptops?would be announced at MWC. Though specific details are not yet forthcoming, Samsung has stated that mobility, seamless experiences and security are its top priorities for the new devices. The launch will take place on 27 February 2022, at 6pm UK time (7:00 p.m. CET), and will be streamed online via?Samsung’s YouTube channel.

Last year the brand focused intensively on its wearables software in the wake of its wearables partnership with Google, which eventually bore fruit with the revamped operating system and interface we saw on the?Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

Sony at MWC 2022

Sony has not been present at MWC since 2019, and sadly this trend is going to continue for at least one more year. An official statement on the matter reads as follows: “Sony Corporation has made the decision not to have its own stand at MWC 2022. As the world has largely shifted toward digital and online opportunities, Sony Corporation will communicate in ways that can bring our exciting product news to a wider audience.”

Huawei at MWC 2022

Huawei Mate X2

It’s been?officially confirmed?that Huawei will be present at MWC this year, boasting the strapline “Lighting up the future” — so what could the manufacturer have in store for us?

A major highlight from previous years was the unveiling of the?Mate X foldable phone, but since the Android ban and Huawei’s resulting decline in Western markets, MWC may no longer be such a priority for the brand. Nonetheless, a foldable follow-up would surely be widely welcomed at the show.

We could also learn more about European launches for the?P50 Pro?and the?P50 Pocket. Both of these devices have been announced for the Chinese market, but a wider release is still expected.

OnePlus at MWC 2022

OnePlus 10 Pro

The most highly anticipated phone launches of early 2022 are undoubtedly those of the?OnePlus 10?and?OnePlus 10 Pro. This latter device received its Chinese release on 13 January, but promised an unveiling “later in 2022” for customers in the US and Europe.

However, it’s improbable that this launch will be delayed all the way until MWC at the end of the following month, so while the new handsets may still be on show there, a full-on launch event seems unlikely.

Xiaomi at MWC 2022

Motorola Razr 2019

Motorola is usually a mainstay at MWC, and while the brand may choose the opportunity to showcase some of the mid-range devices for which it is best known, we’re also keeping our fingers crossed that it unveils the?Motorola Razr 3?foldable as well. This follows comments in December from Chen Jin, the GM of the Lenovo Mobile Business Group in China, that the brand is “silently preparing the third-generation Razr”.

Honor at MWC 2022

Following its separation from Huawei, Honor products are once again available with Google Mobile Services — and the brand recently made its triumphant return to our shores with the?Honor 50. At MWC this year it’s got a premium device set for launch: the?Honor Magic 4.

According to all the rumours we’re aware of so far, it’s well worth getting excited about this device, which is set to boast a sophisticated penta-camera, a flagship chipset, and a top-spec screen as well, so remember to note the launch date in your diary: 12pm GMT (1pm CET), February 28.

Having launched the?Magic V flagship foldable?exclusively in China this January, we’re expecting it to arrive here soon, and MWC 2022 could also be just the right event for its debut as well.

Oppo at MWC 2022

Oppo Find X3 Pro

The?Oppo Find X5 Pro?will be the next “big thing” from the brand, but this will not actually be unveiled at MWC itself. But while the handset will make its bow a few days previously, on 24 February, there’s every chance that we could be able to go hands-on with the brand new device at the event in Barcelona. While the early leaks that we’ve spotted indicate that it will be very similar to the?Oppo Find X3 Pro, it’s still expected to offer an upgraded silicon chip, and possibly even?125W fast-charging?too.

Realme at MWC 2022

Another brand with a flagship phone under development is Realme, and apparently this one is so special that it will be the brand’s first product with a “Pro+” designation. That’s likely to mean that the Realme 9 Pro+ will have excellent camera and screen specs, but we’re going to have to wait until its launch — which could be at MWC 2022 — to find out for sure.

One thing we know for sure we’ll see from the brand at MWC is “the world’s fastest smartphone charging technology”, and we’re stumped to imagine just how powerful that could possibly be, especially if eclipses Oppo’s rumoured 125W offering. Fortunately, you’ll find out when it’s announced on 28 February.